Further to DEFRA statement in December about Yellow Legged Hornet spring trapping, the analysis carried out by Fera Science Ltd to help inform local trapping initiatives in England has now been completed.
The work has identified areas where there may be a higher risk of overwintering Yellow Legged Hornets (YLHs), in England. It was done using data from nests destroyed in 2023 and 2024 to predict which nests in 2025 were more likely to have released reproductive drones prior to destruction in 2025.
In England in 2025, a total of 32 nests were destroyed on or after 30th September. Fera have calculated that these nests had a probability of producing reproductive drones of between 18 – 50% by that point. Therefore these areas are considered to be of higher risk.
A map highlighting the YLH nests found and destroyed in 2025 is shown below. The nests have been coloured according to their calculated risk level. There are 32 high risk nests (red), 35 medium risk nests (amber) and 95 low risk nests (green).
Further details of the nests which are considered to be high risk will be shared with the teams coordinating the spring trapping work.
Please report sightings of Yellow-legged hornets (YLH), also known as Asian hornets, on this online form or download the free Asian hornet Watch app for Apple devices or android devices.
